Israeli Army Radio reported that if Tel Aviv is responsible for the explosion of “pager” communication devices in Lebanon, it is a response to Hezbollah’s plan to target a former security figure, a plot which the Shin Bet (Israel’s internal security agency) announced it had thwarted.
Earlier, the Israeli Internal Security Agency (Shin Bet) revealed on Tuesday that it had foiled a plan by the Lebanese Hezbollah group to assassinate a former high-ranking defense official within the next few days.
Shin Bet did not disclose the identity of the targeted official. The agency added in a statement that it had seized an explosive device connected to a remote detonation system, which Hezbollah intended to activate from within Lebanon using a mobile phone and a camera.
The security agency pointed out that this attempted attack was similar to another Hezbollah plot that had been foiled in Tel Aviv a year ago, without providing further details.
On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office distanced itself from a post made by his advisor, Topaz Luk, who hinted at Tel Aviv’s responsibility for the explosion of mobile communication devices in Lebanon.
Luk’s post came in response to an article by Haaretz journalist Chaim Levinson, who wrote: “If anyone thinks Netanyahu will take any action in the north before he and his wife return from a week in New York and the lady spends the weekend in the suite, they are delusional.”
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Minister of Health announced that the explosion resulted in 2,800 injuries, with 20 in critical condition, and the deaths of 8 individuals, including a child, as an initial casualty report.
Hezbollah stated that on Tuesday afternoon, a number of message-receiving devices, known as “pagers,” belonging to several Hezbollah operatives in various units and institutions, had exploded. “These mysterious explosions have so far led to the death of a child, two brothers, and several others suffering varying injuries,” the party added.
In its statement, Hezbollah emphasized: “We affirm that the resistance, with all its units and levels, is fully prepared to defend Lebanon and its resilient people.”
Lebanese Health Minister Firas Abiad estimated that hundreds were injured due to the explosion of the wireless “pager” devices in various regions across the country.
